HB 18 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Deposit non-levy revenue in school equalization and property tax relief account

HB 18 redirects all revenue from bentonite mining taxes (collected after December 31, 2014) to a dedicated "school equalization and property tax relief account" instead of previous distribution rules. Specifically, 20.75% of this tax revenue must now fund school districts and reduce local property taxes, as amended in sections 15-39-110 and 20-9-331 of Montana law. The bill directly affects mineral producers who pay the tax and school districts that receive funding through the new account. This change applies to all bentonite mining revenue collected after 2014, shifting funds from prior county and state allocations to the equalization account.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Nov 22, 2024 Signed Apr 7, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 11 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0018_X(5).pdf HB0018_X(6).pdf · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill's formatting was updated to standardize the bill number from 'HB0018' to 'HB 18'. The substantive content regarding fund distribution percentages remains unchanged, with Carter County receiving 76.18% and the state general fund receiving 20.75%.
TECHNICAL

The bill number was changed from 'HB0018' to 'HB 18' in the header and enrolled bill sections.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 21, 2025 · House Jan 16, 2025

How they voted

428
Passed
Total votes 50
Mar 21, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
24 Yea 8 Nay
75% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
59
Key actions
13
Committee
12
Apr 7, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (42-8)
senate
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Committee
(S) Rereferred to Committee - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Taxation
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Taxation
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Taxation
upper
Jan 16, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (98-0-2)
house
Jan 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Appropriations
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Appropriations
lower
Jan 10, 2025
Committee
(H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) Appropriations
lower
Jan 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Taxation
lower
Jan 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Taxation
lower
Dec 20, 2024
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Taxation
lower
Nov 22, 2024
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Mark Thane
Mark Thane
DDemocratic
MT
89